Vehicle for laying dismountable bridges

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for laying movable bridges formed of bridge sections which can be coupled end-to-end on the vehicle. The vehicle has at one end a laying device for displacing and laying the assembled bridge. Spaced longitudinally from the laying device is a pick-up device for picking up and supporting a bridge section so as to permit coupling of bridge sections at a same height with respect to the laying device. The pick-up device can support a plurality of the bridge sections in a coupled state, and while so supported, the coupled bridge sections can be displaced relative to the pick-up device in a direction away from the laying device. The pick-up device is spaced from the laying device by a distance which is dimensioned so that at least one bridge section can be inserted between bridge sections supported by the laying device and the pick-up device.

BACKGROUND OF THE SPECIFICATION

The invention relates to a vehicle for laying dismountable bridges, ofthe type provided with a laying device for displacing and laying abridge which can be assembled on the vehicle. Such a vehicle isprovided, at a longitudinally opposite end of the vehicle, with apick-up device for supporting a bridge section at the same height atwhich the laying device supports bridge sections, so as to permitcoupling of the bridge sections.

This type of vehicle is disclosed in German Laid-Open Application DE-OS29 29 208. This vehicle is provided at its forward end with a layingdevice for moving and laying a bridge which is assembled on the vehicle,and at its tail end it is provided with a pick-up device configured as apivotable arm, which picks up a section or component of the bridge froma bridge transport vehicle and attaches it to the bridge componentswhich have already been assembled. In order for the just advanced bridgecomponent not to have to be moved forward in alignment with the alreadyassembled bridge components, the pick-up device is provided with aslewing ring which is supported on the vehicle. For coupling theadvanced bridge section to the one preceding it, the pick-up device isalso arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable on the vehicle.The number of bridge sections that determine the length of the bridgeand can be coupled together with the known vehicle is limited becausethe assembled bridge sections, which project on one side of the vehiclerelatively rapidly produce a tipping moment which exceeds the standingmoment of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to configure a vehicle of the typementioned above, which makes it possible to assemble a significantlylonger bridge. The solution of this problem is to design the pick-updevice and space it from the laying device so that it is able to takehold of at least one of the bridge sections which form the bridge in acoupled state and displace them relative to the pick-up device in thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle a distance which permits at leastone bridge section to be inserted between the bridge sections held bythe laying device and the bridge sections held by the pick-up device.

Due to the novel configuration of the vehicle, the construction ofsignificantly longer bridges is achieved without the vehicle having tobe made heavier or having to be equipped with special supportingdevices. A nearly symmetric assembly of the bridge is made possiblestarting from the center of the vehicle so that during assembly atipping moment about the center of the vehicle can be totally eliminatedor at least be kept to a minimum.

Under normal circumstances the vehicle is equipped with a drive and itmay be a track-laying vehicle or wheeled vehicle, and special designsmay be considered such as, for example, the motor vehicle provided witha sliding frame according to European Patent Application EP-OS 00 93873.

In addition, the vehicle serves, preferably simultaneously, in a knownmanner, for transporting bridge components, with the two ramp sectionsof a dismountable fixed bridge being of primary interest. These sectionsthen form the shortest bridge unit, which, if required, may be elongatedas desired within the scope of the carrying capacity of the vehicle bymeans of further insertable bridge sections.

Transportation of still more bridge sections on the vehicle depends,above all, on the respectively possible and permissible exteriordimensions. For bridges having uniformly long bridge sections, thesesections generally have a length from 6 to 8 m, so that the distancebetween the laying device and the pick-up device is selectedaccordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawingfigures and are described below in greater detail with referencethereto:

FIG. 1, a front view of a vehicle according to the invention providedwith a chain drive;

FIGS. 2-4, sectional views respectively along lines II-II, III--III andIV--IV in FIG. 1 in the region of the bridge sections;

FIGS. 5a-5f, respectively illustrating the first through sixth steps ofa six-step assembly of a bridge on the vehicle according to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a-6h respectively illustrating the first through eighth steps ofan eight-step assembly and laying of a bridge on a vehicle provided witha sliding frame; and

FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of a bridge section provided with acantilever support segment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The vehicle 1 has a body 1A on which shown in FIG. 1 is provided at itsfront end with a projecting laying device 2 that is pivotable about ahorizontal axis and serves, in a known manner, to pick up, displace andlay the bridge. On rear end of the vehicle body 1A is provided aprojecting pick-up device 3 which is provided with four coaxial carrierrollers 4 and 5, which, in their normal position, lie in pairs in ahorizontal plane. A positioning device 6 arranged near the rear end ofvehicle body 1A is associated with the pick-up device 3. Thispositioning device is provided with two coaxially disposed, horizontallydisplaceable supporting rollers 8 which are each provided with anexterior slewing ring 7 (FIG. 4). A positioning device 6' designed thesame way is arranged on the laying device 2.

FIG. 1 shows three bridge sections, two of which are ramp sections. Oneof the two ramp sections, designated by reference numeral 10, is held bypick-up device 3, while the other ramp section 11 of the bridge is heldin alignment with ramp section 10 by the laying device 2.

Between the facing ends of ramp sections 10 and 11 is a space sufficientfor inserting a bridge section 12. The gap between the ramp and thebridge section subsequent to insertion is approximately 20 cm in eachcase. The bridge section 12, which is inserted by means of a vehicle ora crane, is placed with its opposite ends on the positioning devices 6and 6', in such a way that the undersides of all three sections areflush with one another. Then ramp section 11 is moved by means of thedisplacement drive of the laying device 2 in the direction of bridgesection 12 for coupling. If necessary, the bridge section can betemporarily fixed for this purpose. Subsequent to coupling, sections 11and 12, which were coupled to one another by means of laying device 2,are pushed outwardly until the position shown in FIG. 5c is attained,and then a further bridge section 13 can be inserted into the spaceformed between bridge section 12 and ramp section 10. Section 13 is thencoupled with ramp section 10 by moving sections 11 and 12, and is thenadvanced by means of the pick-up device 3 into the projecting positionshown in FIG. 5d. Then the last bridge section 14 is inserted and iscoupled to the two adjacent bridge sections 12 and 13 by displacing itin the same manner (FIG. 5e).

FIG. 5f shows the assembled bridge in a position moved --with respect tothe laying direction--toward the rear, with a cantilever support 15being pushed toward the front. The advancing movement of the cantileversupport and the backward movement of the bridge occurs simultaneously insuch a way that the resulting tipping moment is at least approximatelybalanced out. The cantilever support which is divided into sections ofequal length to the bridge sections, is longitudinally displaceablydisposed inside the bridge as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 5a shows the vehicle1 in its transporting state, with the two ramp sections 10 and 11 beingstacked on top of one another. From this position, they are moved apartin a known manner so that their undersides are aligned with one anotherand they are then brought into the position shown in FIG. 5b.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6a-6h a wheeled vehicle 1' isprovided with a sliding frame 16 on it body 1A. In its transportingstate (FIG. 6a) this vehicle also carries two ramp sections which arestacked on top of one another. Subsequent to moving the sliding frame 16to beyond the rearward end of wheeled vehicle body 1A, the free end ofthe sliding frame is supported on the ground by means of a telescopingsupport 17. The laying device 2' which projects even further and which,as shown in FIG. 6c, carries one of the ramp sections in its extendedstate, is also disposed at this end. The other ramp section is extendedtoward the opposite end, is held by pick-up device 3', and is supportedon the roof of the driver's cab 26 by means of guide rollers whichrelieve pick-up device 3' of its load. Pick-up device 3' is arranged soas to project on the vehicle body side of the sliding frame 16 and, inits retracted state, the sliding frame 16 is disposed above the driver'scab 26 of vehicle 1'.

The assembly step shown in FIGS. 6c and 6d corresponds to that of FIG.5b. The subsequent assembly of the bridge is performed in the samesequence as described for FIGS. 5a-5f. In contrast to the embodimentaccording to FIGS. 5a-5f, the coupling of the bridge sections, however,is the result of pivoting the laying device 2' up to the alignedposition of the bridge sections, with the couplings being configuredappropriately.

FIG. 6g shows the cantilever support 15' which is extended to theopposite bank, and FIG. 6h shows the bridge completely deployed acrossthe barrier with the aid of the laying device 2'. The cantilever support15', in this case, remains within the bridge and makes it possible,since it is of equal length with the bridge, to pick the bridge up againand disassemble it from the near as well as the far bank in reversesequence. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6a-6h, the ramp sections(FIG. 6a) transported by means of vehicle 1' are longer than the bridgesections used for elongating the bridge by means of a vehicle crane 27.The length of the bridge and of the ramp sections is freely selectable,depending on the respective requirements, but is advisably primarilydetermined by the transporting capacity of the vehicles used fortransport. The width of the bridge is as a rule approximately 4 m.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how the carrier rollers 4 and 5 of the pick-up device3 engage the U-shaped recesses provided on the track carriers 18, whichform the interior bottom chords of the U-shaped tracks of the bridgesections. The rollers 4 are axially adjustable by means of a drive 19which allows them to be drawn in and out in relation to the trackcarriers 18. This facilitates insertion of ramp section 10 into thepick-up device 3. The pick-up device 3 is further equipped with a drive20 which acts on two pinions 21 that are arranged to be coaxial with thecarrier rollers 5, which engage the track carriers 18 as well. Thepinions 21 engage toothed rods 22 which are arranged to face one anotheron the interiors of the track carriers 18 so that the drive 20 causesthe longitudinal displacement of the bridge sections which are, ifnecessary, coupled to one another. A corresponding drive is provided ina known manner for the laying device 2.

The support rollers 8 shown in FIG. 4, which are associated withpositioning device 6, are each provided with a drive which affects theirdisplaceability in the axial direction. This makes it possible,subsequent to placement of the bridge sections intended to be inserted,for the two support rollers 8, which are initially positioned at greaterdistances from one another, to be brought into the desired position,i.e., into alignment with the remaining bridge sections, by moving therollers toward one another by means of the slewing rings 7. For the samepurpose, the positioning device 6' arranged at the laying device 2 isconfigured in the same way.

FIG. 7 shows a cantilever support segment 15' arranged in the center ofa bridge section 23. The configuration of this cantilever supportsegment has already been disclosed in German Laid-Open PatentApplication DE-OS 36 28 273. The carrier rollers 4 associated with thepick-up device 3 again engage the track carriers 18' of bridge section23. The cantilever support 15' is mounted in a corresponding manner tobe longitudinally displaceable by means of the guide rollers 24, withinthe bridge section. A drive 25 disposed at the laying device 2 or at thepick-up device 3 makes it possible to alternatively displace the bridgesection or the cantilever support. However, the new vehicle also permitsthe use of other types of cantilever supports that are displaceable fromwithin the bridge.

For coupling the individual bridge sections and also the cantileversupport segments, automatic engagement couplings are used which arereleased again if the bridge is dismantled. However, the release of thecouplings is used advantageously during assembly as well; that is tosay, it is used if only the laying device is equipped with a drive fordisplacing the bridge and if, subsequent to coupling an inserted bridgesection at both ends, one end must be released again to separate therespective bridge halves from one another. The couplings may also beconfigured in such a way that they simultaneously serve as positioningdevices, for example, in their simplest embodiment, as a mandrel whichcan be inserted into a bore from above.

In some cases, for example, if no cantilever support is used, thepick-up device 3 need only be configured in such a way that it can carryhalf of the maximum number of bridge sections provided for the finishedbridge. In case the pick-up device should simultaneously serve as alaying device it must, of course, be designed and configuredaccordingly. In that cases, the vehicle is even more versatile: forexample, the bridge may be picked up again from the far bank withoutturning the vehicle around.

In individual cases, it is also possible to insert severalcorrespondingly shorter bridge sections which have previously beencoupled together without this requiring any modifications. Ifessentially shorter bridge sections must be inserted individually, thepositioning devices are to be arranged at considerably shorter distancesfrom one another or at least one additional positioning device must beused.

I claim:
 1. In a vehicle for laying movable bridges, including a layingdevice, disposed at one end of the vehicle, for displacing and laying abridge which includes bridge sections that can be assembled on thevehicle, and a pick-up device, disposed at a position on the vehiclewhich is spaced from said laying device in a longitudinal direction ofthe vehicle, for picking up and supporting a bridge section so as topermit coupling of bridge sections at the same height with respect tosaid laying device, the improvement whereinsaid pick-up device has meansfor supporting a plurality of the bridge sections when said plurality ofthe bridge sections are in a coupled state, such that the plurality ofcoupled bridge sections are displaceable relative to said supportingmeans away from the laying device in the longitudinal direction; andsaid pick-up device is spaced from said laying device in thelongitudinal direction a distance which is dimensioned so that at leastone bridge section can be inserted between bridge sections supported bysaid laying device and said pick-up device.
 2. Vehicle according toclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of positioning devices, thelaying device and the pick-up device being each associated with at leastone positioning device.
 3. Vehicle according to claim 2, wherein atleast one of the positioning devices is arranged on the associatedlaying or pick-up device.
 4. In combination, the vehicle according toclaim 3, and a plurality of bridge sections, the bridge sections havingcouplings for connecting the bridge sections together, the couplingsbeing configured to form positioning devices.
 5. Vehicle according toclaim 2, wherein the bridge sections have track carriers on undersidesthereof and at least one of the positioning devices includes two spacedapart, coaxially arranged supporting rollers (8) for receiving the trackcarriers.
 6. Vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the supportingrollers are provided with slewing rings and are axially displaceable. 7.Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the one end of the vehicle is afirst end and the pick-up device projects in relation to a second end ofthe vehicle opposite to said first end.
 8. Vehicle according to claim 7,wherein the pick-up device has means for laying the bridge from thesecond end.
 9. Vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pick-up deviceand the laying device are each provided with a drive for displacing thebridge sections.
 10. In combination, a vehicle for laying a bridgeaccording to claim 1, and a plurality of cantilever support segmentshaving a same length as the bridge sections and which can be held withthe bridge sections and simultaneously coupled together when said bridgesections are coupled together.
 11. A vehicle for assembling and laying amovable bridge formed of bridge sections coupled end-to-end, the vehiclecomprising:a vehicle body which extends in a longitudinal direction; alaying device located at an end of said body, said laying device havingmeans for supporting a bridge section at a predetermined height at saidend, for moving the supported bridge section, and any further bridgesections coupled thereto, in the longitudinal direction, and for layingthe assembled bridge; and a pick-up device disposed on said vehiclebody, said pick-up device having means for picking up at least onebridge section, and for supporting a plurality of coupled bridgesections at the predetermined height, so that the coupled bridgesections are longitudinally slideable away from said end and relative tosaid pick-up device, said pick-up device being spaced from said layingdevice in the longitudinal direction a distance which is dimensioned sothat at least one bridge section can be inserted between bridge sectionssupported by said laying device and said pick-up device.
 12. A vehicleaccording to claim 11, further comprisingat least one first positioningmeans associated with said laying device, said first positioning meanspositioning the bridge sections supported by said laying device formutual coupling, and at least one second positioning means associatedwith said pick-up device, said second positioning means positioning thebridge sections supported by said pick-up device for mutual coupling.13. A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the firstand second positioning means is located on the associated device.
 14. Avehicle according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the positioningdevices includes two spaced apart coaxial supporting rollers forreceiving track carriers on respective undersides of the bridgesections.
 15. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein each of saidrollers is axially displaceable and includes a slewing ring.
 16. Avehicle according to claim 11, wherein said end of said vehicle body isa first end, said body having a second end opposite said first end, saidpick-up device projecting from said second end away from said first endin the longitudinal direction.
 17. A vehicle according to claim 16,wherein said pick-up device includes means for setting the coupledbridge sections down from the vehicle, so as to function as a furtherlaying device.
 18. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein each of saidpick-up device and said laying device comprises a respective drive fordisplacing the bridge sections.
 19. A vehicle according to claim 11,further comprising a frame slidably mounted on said vehicle body formovement in the longitudinal direction, said laying device and saidpick-up device being mounted on respective opposite ends of said frame.